What is a DAKI retrospective meeting?
A DAKI retrospective meeting helps streamline your team's workflow by identifying practices to eliminate and new strategies to adopt for better performance. In simple terms, DAKI stands for "Drop," "Add," "Keep," and "Improve." These meetings are team huddles that happen after a sprint. They're designed to reflect on what went well, what didn't, and how the team can evolve for better performance. Taking notes during this meeting is important; it keeps everyone on the same page and makes sure that good ideas and important feedback aren't lost in the shuffle.
You might also like our DAKI Retrospective Meeting Agenda template.
Tips for writing good DAKI retrospective meeting notes
1. Be specific about action items: While noting down what to "Drop," "Add," "Keep," and "Improve," always be specific about the action items. Rather than writing ambiguous tasks like "improve communication," frame them concretely, such as "introduce a daily 15-minute team huddle to discuss project updates." Specific tasks provide clear direction, ensuring everyone understands what's expected, reducing room for ambiguity, and enhancing the chances of successful execution.
2. Include a reason: When the team decides to drop a certain practice or add a new one, always note the reasoning behind it. For instance, if a practice is being dropped, detail why it's no longer beneficial. Documenting the reasoning not only clarifies the decision for those who might not have been present but also serves as a reference for future retrospectives. Understanding the "why" behind decisions aids in reinforcing the learning from each sprint and prevents repeated mistakes. This not only provides clarity but also helps in future retrospectives.
3. Assign responsibility: Clearly specify who is responsible for what action item. This accountability ensures that tasks are pursued diligently, enhancing the likelihood that they will be completed as intended.
4. Set deadlines: Attaching a timeline to each action item fosters a sense of urgency and focus. By stating when a task should be completed, you create a clear expectation which aids in planning and prioritization. Not only that, deadlines assist team leads and managers in tracking progress, ensuring that tasks aren't endlessly deferred.
5. Enable feedback: Create a space in your notes where team members can offer feedback on the meeting itself or clarify certain points. This iterative feedback process ensures that the document remains relevant, accurate, and evolves according to the team's needs.
What's in this template?
Customizable to your team's needs: Adapt sections and questions in this template to make them uniquely fit the requirements and challenges your team faces.
- Introduction: Start off by setting the context—discuss the sprint, its challenges, and why you're gathering for this retrospective.
- Drop section: A space for your team to discuss practices that need to go. You'll find room to list these items, why they should be dropped, and what alternative steps can be considered.
- Add section: Discuss new practices that could benefit the team. Include reasons for these new additions and what positive outcomes you expect.
- Keep section: Reflect on what’s working well and should continue. Describe why these practices are effective and why they deserve to stick around.
- Improve section: Delve into practices that are beneficial but require some fine-tuning. Discuss the current challenges and suggest ways to improve.
- Action items: A dedicated zone to jot down all the actionable steps discussed. This ensures everyone leaves the meeting knowing what needs to be done next.
Get more out of your retrospective meetings. Take more focused, actionable and impactful meeting notes at your next DAKI retrospective meeting — give this template a try.
